{I love this family pic Shelby drew recently...Wonder how an art therapist would analyze it with Jesse and Lucy holding hands, me looking at James and Lucy looking at Preslie, James holding the dog leash, Shelby with her hands planted on her hips and Preslie throwing up a peace sign...}
Most nights after we tuck the kids in, we can hear them chattering on the monitor for 15 minutes or so. I love to hear them giggling and talking about about all kinds of kid stuff...stuff we grown-ups never take the time to think about any more. Usually after several moments of chatter, we will hear them say their good nights to one another and it always reminds me of the Waltons. I almost expect to hear one of them say,"Good night, John Boy." Sometimes it does get a little ugly, I have to admit, with a few, "GO TO SLEEP, Preslie and Lucy"s! But, for the most part, there is love in their little voices.
They are still all sharing one room (and no one is really anxious to move out). Many of my friends and family think this is so crazy. I mean, we live in America, don't we? So shouldn't each of our children get their own room, a little space that is only theirs, where they can get away from the family if they need privacy, put a sign on the door that says, "boys or girls only..." Isn't that just the right thing to do for our kids, because everyone else does it that way?
Several years ago a family who we consider mentors shared with us a revolutionary concept. Shouldn't be, but it is. Our friends said to us, (and I am paraphrasing b/c it was a long time ago) "We have always had our kid share a room with at least one sibling because it prepares them for a lifetime of sharing a room with someone...with guidance, sharing a room teaches them to share, respect each others space and belongs, work out differences, compromise, communicate with and confide in one another, learn to work as a team, and bond in a special way. When they go away to college, they will have a roommate, and when they get married they will have a permanent roommate. Allowing them to have their own room where they can shut everyone out and spend a lot of time alone does not prepare them for real life or teach them important relationship skills." There was so much wisdom in what they said and after talking to their kids and getting their perspectives about it, I know that they were right. I have never met a group of siblings who have such a deep sense of family pride, loyalty and love for one another.
I am not saying that our kids will never ever have their own room. Chances are, Jesse will have his own room at some point because he is a boy and he might not want to room with girls as he gets older. Plus, Shelby really wants to fancy the girls' room up at some point. But, they really don't spend much time in there except to sleep anyway and for now I love that they love being in the same room and that they are so close with one another. They need one another. There is something so special about the sibling bond and I want to do everything I can to protect and nurture it in my kiddos. I even encourage them to keep each other's secrets and maintain loyalty by not tattling on each other unless one of them has done something to harm himself or others. (but that is a topic for another post.)
So anyway, I hope I always remember the nightly noise on the monitor as it fades...as they grow older and the chatter turns to whispers and the monitor goes away because there are no babies up there any more... "Good night, Shelby, Good night, Jesse, Good night, Lucy, Good night, Preslie...GO TO SLEEP, Lou Lou!"
Does artwork count as embracing the camera if the drawing includes you? I think so. If not, here is another pic of me with my oldest and youngest on the 4th. We were trying to comfort Miss P because the fireworks were stressing her out.
